Chapter 82: Pig‑Riding Company, Attack!

"Where exactly did it run off to?"

"Didn't see it."

"It's too dark, the forest is foggy, and it's just too hard to find."

"Then let's wait until dawn; with better visibility we can definitely find it."

"Bullshit! If the wild boar gets out, it will harm civilians, attack old men and women, attack children—what then?"

"A wild boar over four hundred jin, with tusks, looks like a mini tank—this danger is no small matter!"

"If we hadn't run into it, that would be fine."

"But we ran into it, didn't catch it, and caused trouble; then the Whole Company would all get punished!"

"While everyone was scanning with flashlights, searching over and over, Zhou Kaidong arrived with Lu Yang and others after confirming that Fourth Class Squad Leader Li Jiang was unharmed."

"\"We've searched this side, First Platoon Leader, you go over there and take a look! \""

"\"Yes! \""

"Zhou Kaidong led his men toward the western forest, and everyone spread out to search carefully."

"After witnessing the earlier scene where the wild boar went berserk and rammed the Fourth Class, everyone became trembling with fear."

"Humans and beasts differ fundamentally; humans fear pain and injury."

"But beasts aren't afraid; when provoked they go mad, making humans seem comparatively passive in such situations."

"Yet as time passed, the fog thickened, and visibility dropped considerably compared to before."

"When the search stalled, even Gao Feng wondered if the wild boar had already fled from Hou Shan, and he was about to announce the end of the hunt."

"Lu Yang made another discovery; he pointed at the crooked tree beside the Company Commander and warned."

"\"Company Commander, there's something over there! \""

"\"Where? \""

"\"In the dead grass behind the second tree on your left side. \""

"Gao Feng, half in doubt, turned his head; as the flashlight beam swept over, a pair of fierce, bean‑sized eyes flickered with a cold glint, staring at him intently."

"Sure enough, right there!"

"Without time to wonder how Lu Yang found it, Gao Feng immediately raised his muzzle."

"But just as he was about to disengage the safety and pull the bolt to chamber a round, the boar lurking in the grass seemed to sense danger and surged forward like a cannonball."

"Gao Feng couldn't dodge in time; he spread his legs and leapt forcefully."

"Originally, he intended to leap over the boar like a mountain goat, land perfectly, and earn top marks."

"Instead, he misjudged and landed squarely on the boar's back."

"With his feet off the ground, wind whistling past his ears, he clutched the boar's tail in terror."

"Pig‑Riding Company, attack!"

"Lu Yang, shocked, suddenly had this thought pop into his head!"

"The others also assumed the Company Commander was trying to subdue the boar using a bullfighter's tactic."

"Who knew it was merely a mishap, or that the Company Commander's wild shouting scared his own soul away, and only then did everyone learn the truth."

"\"Save the Company Commander quickly! \""

"The sudden scene made everyone laugh... to the point of a sore stomach."

"One by one they threw themselves forward, wielding iron spades and engineering shovels, trying to strike the boar."

"But whether intentional or not, several swings ended up hitting Gao Feng's backside."

"In pain and fury, he deeply suspected someone was using the chaos to settle a personal grudge."

"The Instructor remained calm, seized the moment, drew a dagger, and thrust it into the boar's hindquarters."

"The wounded boar instantly entered a berserk state; its front hooves kicked hard, flinging Gao Feng down so violently his bones nearly shattered."

"The enraged boar began charging indiscriminately at the surrounding crowd."

"Veterans and rookies alike fled in terror, some even scrambling up trees."

"This scene oddly reminded Lu Yang of the currently popular variety show \"City Between\"."

"Except the raging bull was replaced by an angry wild boar."

"In the chaos, the Company Commander's 81‑caliber rifle fell near Lu Yang."

"He stared at the absurd, theatrical, chaotic scene and, as if compelled by a ghost, walked toward the gun."

"After picking it up, he checked the magazine and confirmed it was loaded with live rounds."

"He disengaged the safety, pulled the bolt, and aimed the muzzle at the roughly four‑hundred‑jin rampaging boar."

"Seeming to sense the threat from Lu Yang's gun, the boar glared, stamped the ground twice, then barreled toward Lu Yang like a cannonball."

"\"Lu Yang, watch out! \""

"\"Move quickly! \""

"Zhou Kaidong helped Gao Feng to his feet and shouted a warning together."

"That impact would at least break several ribs."

"Contrary to expectation, the scene of Lu Yang being knocked airborne by the boar never occurred."

"With a gunshot, a blood‑filled cavity appeared in the boar's back."

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Then came several more gunshots."

"Each bullet struck the boar's torso."

"Finally, the boar collapsed about two meters from Lu Yang, slid by inertia to his feet, and he stomped on its head with his foot."

"The smell of gunpowder curled around his nostrils, quickening his heartbeat while a mix of nervousness, fear, and exhilaration swirled inside him."

So this is what hunting feels like?

It seems even easier than I imagined?

Lu Yang, as if driven by instinct, removed the magazine, emptied the chamber, pulled the bolt back twice with the muzzle pointing upward, producing a clacking sound.

That fluid, graceful recoil‑recovery motion, together with the steady shooting stance he showed when confronting the charging boar, left everyone on the spot dumbfounded.

Zhou Kaidong's eyes bulged out, as if he had seen a ghost.

Gao Feng slammed his chin onto the ground, his face full of disbelief.

He Zhen Tao was a mix of joy and worry, his expression extremely complicated.

The other recruits gave him reverent, worshipful looks.

Ding Tengfei watched, and his heart was no longer jealousy but deep envy: "So cool, I wish I could be as carefree as him!"

"Yes, is someone setting off firecrackers?"

"Nonsense, it should be gunfire."

"That spot should be the New Recruit Company; could they be conducting a Night Live-fire Shooting Assessment?"

"What are you kidding, the New Recruit Company doesn't have such a subject; I guess some veteran is test‑firing."

The gunshots echoed far across the dead‑silent night sky.

Veterans in the nearby camp, hearing the gunfire, stuck their heads out and looked toward its source, yet saw nothing.

Lu Yang couldn't recall whether he had fired four shots or five.

In short, the recoil made his shoulders tingle slightly, and his right ear buzzed a bit; overall it felt comfortable and exhilarating.

Everyone swarmed around him, and Lu Yang handed the Gun Automatic Rifle, after separating the ammunition, back to the Company Commander.

Zhou Kaidong hurriedly asked with concern, "You okay?"

Lu Yang shook his head, "I'm fine; the rifle's not."

Everyone followed his gaze to the wounded boar on the ground, barely clinging to life after several shots, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The Whole Company deployed so many people to encircle it; if the boar still managed to escape, that would be the biggest joke.

Gao Feng jabbed Lu Yang's shoulder with his fist, "Good kid, hitting so accurately on your first Live-fire Shooting Assessment; I'll record a merit for you later!"

Lu Yang was surprised, "Can that really earn a merit?"

Gao Feng laughed heartily, "Giving you a commendation is no problem."

Hearing that they could actually earn a merit made the recruits even more envious; this is winning right from the start.

Especially the Eighth Squad's Cup Brother Zhang Jiaheng, who was like lemon‑flavored soda gulping a fizzy tablet, spitting bubbles from the sourness.

He's also fired live rounds and could do it himself, yet why did that gun end up falling at Lu Yang's feet, just for him to pick it up?

But unlike the others' excitement, Lu Yang walked to the left, passed by Cai Di, skirted a dirt slope, and finally stopped at a crooked‑necked tree.

The others were puzzled, but Lu Yang squatted, pulled apart two clumps of grass on the ground, revealing two adorably chubby piglets, barely larger than a palm.

The two piglets stumbled to the side of the wounded boar, repeatedly nudging it with their heads, while the injured boar seemed to try desperately to stand, yet could not.

Only at this moment did everyone realize the boar was a sow.

So the boar's frenzy was merely to protect its two piglets from harm?

The earlier attack on Liu Cheng was probably also when it was stealing cabbage and got startled.

Gao Feng refocused his gaze on the sow's bullet holes and found none were fatal; all had missed vital areas.

At that moment, his look upward toward Lu Yang changed…